Maury Finney

Maury Finney
Origin Humboldt, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres Country
Occupations Musician
Instruments Saxophone
Years active 1976-1980
Labels Soundwaves

Maury Finney (born in Humboldt, Minnesota) is an American country music saxophonist. Between 1976 and 1980, he recorded for the Soundwaves record label. Finney charted twelve times on the Billboard country singles charts. His highest-peaking single was "Coconut Grove," which reached #72 in 1977.

Contents

Musical career

In the 1970s, Finney owned an appliance store in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. He also played in a band called The Charms, which had regional success, before recording his debut single "Maiden's Prayer" for the Soundwaves label.[1]

Finney's recordings for Soundwaves largely comprised instrumental covers of other artists' songs. Among these were David Houston's "Almost Persuaded," Larry Gatlin's "I Don't Wanna Cry," Hank Thompson's "The Wild Side of Life" and Ernest Tubb's "Waltz Across Texas."[2] The singles "Maiden's Prayer," "Coconut Grove" and "I Want to Play My Horn on the Grand Ole Opry" all featured vocals from a backing chorus, and Finney provided additional vocals on the latter.[2]

Between 1976 and 1977, he had charted the most instrumental songs of any country music artist.[3] In 1977, the Country Music Association nominated him Instrumentalist of the Year.[3]

Finney continued to operate his appliance store until 2001, when he retired and closed it.[4]

Discography

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions
US Country[2]
1976 "Maiden's Prayer" 84
"Rollin' in My Sweet Baby's Arms" 76
"Waltz Across Texas" 81
1977 "Everybody's Had the Blues" 85
"Coconut Grove" 72
"Poor People of Paris" 85
1978 "I Don't Wanna Cry" 88
"Whispering" 84
1979 "Happy Sax" 92
"Your Love Takes Me So High" 93
1980 "Lonely Wine" 75

B-sides

Year Single Chart Positions Original A-side
US Country[2]
1976 "San Antonio Stroll" flip "Maiden's Prayer"
"The Wild Side of Life" 78 "Rollin' in My Sweet Baby's Arms"
"Off and Running" flip "Waltz Across Texas"
1977 "Almost Persuaded" flip "Poor People of Paris"
1979 "I Want to Play My Horn on the Grand Ole Opry" flip "Your Love Takes Me So High"
"flip" indicates that the release was a two-sided single

References

  1. ^ "A Charmed Life of Music: EGF's Maury FInney to Be Inducted to the Minnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame". Grand Forks Herald. 26 April 2007. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=GF&s_site=grandforks&p_multi=GF&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=118C6C320AD6E700&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c d Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 144. ISBN 0-89820-177-2. 
  3. ^ a b "Finney in Line". Billboard: 57. 19 March 1977. http://books.google.com/books?id=sUUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT76&dq=%22maury+finney&client=firefox-a&cd=7#v=onepage&q=%22maury%20finney&f=false. 
  4. ^ Lee, Stephen J. (14 February 2001). "Long-Time Appliance Salesman to Close Store in East Grand Forks, ND [sic"]. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-70453072.html. Retrieved 7 September 2010.